Choosing Closet Doors

Barn Door Closet

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The location of your closet and the amount of space you have in the room will determine the best type of door for your closet. No matter the style, you want a closet door that gives you easy access to the contents inside and reflects the look of your home.

Closet Doors for Every Design Style

Best Bets in the Bedroom

Bedroom closets generally have sliding doors or bi-fold doors, which take up less space since they don't open out. Photo courtesy of ClosetMaid

Doors for Your Foyer

Hall closets typically have a single door, but bi-folds are a good option, too, depending on the size of the closet and space around it. If you've got extra room, why not try a double door, for easier access to your coats and boots? Photo courtesy of California Closets

Repurpose for Style

Sliding Doors Save Space

Sliding doors are an efficient way to save floor space and, if they're hung like barn doors (like the ones in the photo), they add architectural interest to the room. Photo courtesy of Rubbermaid

Bi-Fold Doors Offer Full Access

Bi-fold doors allow you to access your whole closet at once and save space by folding accordion-style instead of swinging out. Photo courtesy of ClosetMaid

Photo By: ClosetMaid

Consider Louver Doors for Circulation

Louver doors have slats set in a frame running the length of the door. The louvers allow air to circulate into the closet, while obscuring the contents. Photo courtesy of ClosetMaid

Foyer Closet

Photo courtesy of California Closets

Photo courtesy of California Closets

Traditional Hinged Swinging Door

In many traditional homes, reach-in closets feature a simple hinged swinging door or double doors. This type of door allows you to increase the storage capacity of your closet by mounting hooks, pockets or racks to the back of the door. On the downside, a standard hinged door that swings outward means you can't have anything in the way. This can create a traffic flow problem for tight spaces.

Movable Wardrobe Doors

Photo courtesy of California Closets

Photo courtesy of California Closets

Sliding Doors

Traffic flow isn't an issue for closets with sliding doors. A standard for many reach-in closets, sliding doors come in a variety of styles and finishes, from frosted and translucent glass to mirrored or raised panel. Only permitting access to one side of your closet at a time is the biggest drawback to sliding doors. Keep in mind that fully mirrored sliding doors can also overwhelm a room.

Dressing Room

Photo courtesy of California Closets

Photo courtesy of California Closets

Bi-Fold Doors

Installed to fold back to one or both sides, bi-folding doors are a nice alternative to sliding doors because they give you access to the full width of your closet, and only take up half as much floor space as a swinging door. But bi-folding doors also use twice the number of moving parts as sliding doors and that means twice the opportunity for binding or falling off the tracks.

Pink and Green Bath Closet

Photo courtesy of ClosetMaid

Photo courtesy of ClosetMaid

Alternative Doors

There are other options for closet doors. Get creative with your closet door options.

Pocket doors are great for closets that are open most of the time.

Use panels of fabric or curtains for a closet "door" to add color and texture to your room

For a rustic-style home, a barn door that slides along a top track offers a nice design detail for the surrounding room.